DBSTalk code for SWM from DirecTV

[phlevin]

The idea of DirecTV providing a code that would allow forum members to order the SWM before full release was suggested on a thread.

Just wondered if this was noted and had any traction with the powers that be?

Would seem like a good idea to me. Kind of a follow-up to the earlier beta testing by select members. Certainly any new issues would get aired here quickly with constructive feedback.

[Earl Bonovich]

I'll float it by them, but I put the level of success on it... close to the same chances DLB will be in the next CE.

[dbmaven]

I'll float it by them, but I put the level of success on it... close to the same chances DLB will be in the next CE.

Translation:

Slim to none.
And Slim took the day off..... ;)

Too bad. I think it would be a great idea.

[Ken S]

Sometimes the only code word you need is a sincere "Please"

[Nick]

By all means, be sincere, even if you have to fake it.

[Hansen]

... close to the same chances DLB will be in the next CE.


So, does that mean DLB is not a dead issue and while it might not be in the next CE, it could be planned for another CE?

[Stuart Sweet]

No, that's not what he means. He simply means that there is a very slim chance that there will be a code for an SWM, because anything that's posted on the internet tends to travel the globe 6 times over.

[Earl Bonovich]

So, does that mean DLB is not a dead issue and while it might not be in the next CE, it could be planned for another CE?

Umm.... no.. doesn't mean that at all.

[bhelton71]

I'll float it by them, but I put the level of success on it... close to the same chances DLB will be in the next CE.

Lloyd: What are the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?
Mary: Well, that's pretty difficult to say.
Lloyd: Hit me with it! I've come a long way to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?
Mary: Not good.
Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?
Mary: I'd say more like one out of a million.
[pause]
Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance. :lol:

[Greg Alsobrook]

Lloyd: What are the chances of a guy like you and a girl like me... ending up together?
Mary: Well, that's pretty difficult to say.
Lloyd: Hit me with it! I've come a long way to see you, Mary. The least you can do is level with me. What are my chances?
Mary: Not good.
Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?
Mary: I'd say more like one out of a million.
[pause]
Lloyd: So you're telling me there's a chance. :lol:

:lol:

SO WEIRD that you posted that... cause that's exactly what i thought of after reading earl's initial reply...

[CJTE]

But the thing is...
Its not up to D* wether or not you get an SWM, because D* cant order multiswitches.

Its up to your local installer, if they have them in stock.

But yes, that would be awesome.

[mcbeevee]

http://www.moviepublicity.com/image_assets/dumbdumber_02.jpg

[Earl Bonovich]

But the thing is...
Its not up to D* wether or not you get an SWM, because D* cant order multiswitches.

Its up to your local installer, if they have them in stock.

But yes, that would be awesome.

Not entirely true...

Eventually you will be able to get the SWM if you want to...

Just right now.. .it is not an available option

[CJTE]

Not entirely true...

Eventually you will be able to get the SWM if you want to...

Just right now.. .it is not an available option

Right, I understand that, kind of.
My point was that the CSR you talk to on the phone, cant order a multiswitch. Thats why you cant get a replacement in the mail, or request one. Now... For example, the Zinwells... You can put a request on the work order that they tech leave/install a 6x16, but, it wont show up as something ordered, it'll show up as a note...

[tuff bob]

I've often thought that there should be an "expert customer" type flag put on accounts, so as to avoid the basic troubleshooting that you go thru when you call CSRs, such as have you rebooted your receivers etc. I can't see how that wouldn't reduce call center costs and improve satisfaction with a certain segment of your customer base.

[PennHORN]

D* needs to release the SWM now. SWM availability should have coincided with new HD channel release to maximize the opportunity they have in gaining converts. D* is more attractive now than ever. If they had SWM ready, installation for a single coax per outlet "cable-ready" home would be a snap.

[Earl Bonovich]

D* needs to release the SWM now. SWM availability should have coincided with new HD channel release to maximize the opportunity they have in gaining converts. D* is more attractive now than ever. If they had SWM ready, installation for a single coax per outlet "cable-ready" home would be a snap.

Umm...

It already is in about 4 markets.... It is going to take time for it to stretch out accross the entire nation.

Not everything can "coincide" together at one point in time.... as much as they want to get everything out and done... they don't want to hold off one major thing, to wait for another... or another and another...

[tuff bob]

When does D* release hardware like the SWM to people like solidsignal. I'm sure there are more than a few people on here willing to pay to play with the hardware, if they could get it.

Sometimes its hard to get DirecTV to take our money :lol:

[PennHORN]

Umm...

It already is in about 4 markets.... It is going to take time for it to stretch out accross the entire nation.

Not everything can "coincide" together at one point in time.... as much as they want to get everything out and done... they don't want to hold off one major thing, to wait for another... or another and another...

I guess. I am just a bit cranky after spending close to a grand in running extra coax and cat5e cables throughout my townhome to get dual tuner DVR and DoD capability. If the SWM was out, I could have saved a lot of money and just had wireless bridges for my 3 HR20-700s

[Stuart Sweet]

I've often thought that there should be an "expert customer" type flag put on accounts, so as to avoid the basic troubleshooting that you go thru when you call CSRs, such as have you rebooted your receivers etc. I can't see how that wouldn't reduce call center costs and improve satisfaction with a certain segment of your customer base.

I'd love it but it would be difficult to implement and maintain. How would you qualify? What if someone else in your family called and needed base line support? What if someone lied and said they were you, could you get the flag taken off for being a bonehead?

[flipptyfloppity]

When does D* release hardware like the SWM to people like solidsignal. I'm sure there are more than a few people on here willing to pay to play with the hardware, if they could get it.

Sometimes its hard to get DirecTV to take our money :lol:

Agreed. Sheesh. I'd buy one if I could, I'm not asking for a handout.

[Sirshagg]

Agreed. Sheesh. I'd buy one if I could, I'm not asking for a handout.

x2
+1
:up:

[veryoldschool]

Patience and waiting seem in such short supply.
I've been waiting for HD channels for years.

[Radio Enginerd]

:lol:

SO WEIRD that you posted that... cause that's exactly what i thought of after reading earl's initial reply...

+2 no joke!

[Tonedeaf]

Umm...

It already is in about 4 markets.... It is going to take time for it to stretch out accross the entire nation.

Not everything can "coincide" together at one point in time.... as much as they want to get everything out and done... they don't want to hold off one major thing, to wait for another... or another and another...
Even in those supposed markets it isn't available to all. My local Mastec installer said they aren't even carrying it as the cost is too much.

[RAD]

I know I'd love to be able to get one, have a receiver sitting around waiting for them to become available. It would also come in handy for my son who's wanting to go with D* but cabling would be a real PITA and a SWM would solve that issue. Hoping it becomes available sooner then later.

[dbmaven]

..... could you get the flag taken off for being a bonehead?

ROFLMAO !

http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/frech/a068.gif

"I'm sorry sir, your 'expert flag' was removed last month, because of the boneheaded question you asked on September 10th...."

[flipptyfloppity]

Patience and waiting seem in such short supply.
I've been waiting for HD channels for years.

Fair enough.

I see in your signature that you aren't waiting for SWM. Is it that difficult to see how those who don't have it might want it? Maybe unhooking yours would help you understand the situation we're in.

[Earl Bonovich]

Fair enough.

I see in your signature that you aren't waiting for SWM. Is it that difficult to see how those who don't have it might want it? Maybe unhooking yours would help you understand the situation we're in.

I am pretty sure we all understand the desire to have one...
As yes.. we all desired it too (those that have one to field trial).

I have gone through many years of running mulitple coax lines... in akward places.... where SWM would have made it easier.

But is it "that" difficult to understand that the product is still in field testing.... and DirecTV is trying to finalize it? The same company that people lambasted for rushing out something last year... is now getting lambasted for not rushing to get this product out quicker....

[gcisko]

Translation:

Slim to none.
And Slim took the day off..... ;)

Too bad. I think it would be a great idea.

Yeah like it will happen when pigs fly :lol:

[PennHORN]

Earl, I think the frustration stems from the fact that it seems like field testing is done and that SWM is ready to go except that for whatever reason deployment or general availability is not happening.

The anticipation and disappointment is heightened by the fact that SWM availability was anticipated to be imminent. In my case, I was PROMISED by BOTH the D* CSR and head of the local installer that I would get one for my install 3 weeks ago which jived with the stories that SWM were being sent out on installs in Texas.

I was led to believe the damn thing could be had. I could have waited and lived with single tuner life until the beginning of the year which is now the parroted line on SWM availability. I don't have patience and spent a lot of money on a very difficult extra line fish that resulted in several holes in my sheetrock. A lot of people are not willing to either spend the money or put up with the bitching of their significant other (which I thankfully avoided on both counts) to put up with this and I don't blame them.

[dbmaven]

Yeah like it will happen when pigs fly :lol:

:D +1

....or maybe when ducks whistle...? lol

[phlevin]

Earl, I think the frustration stems from the fact that it seems like field testing is done and that SWM is ready to go except that for whatever reason deployment or general availability is not happening.

The anticipation and disappointment is heightened by the fact that SWM availability was anticipated to be imminent. In my case, I was PROMISED by BOTH the D* CSR and head of the local installer that I would get one for my install 3 weeks ago which jived with the stories that SWM were being sent out on installs in Texas.

I was led to believe the damn thing could be had. I could have waited and lived with single tuner life until the beginning of the year which is now the parroted line on SWM availability. I don't have patience and spent a lot of money on a very difficult extra line fish that resulted in several holes in my sheetrock. A lot of people are not willing to either spend the money or put up with the bitching of their significant other (which I thankfully avoided on both counts) to put up with this and I don't blame them.

I agree about expectations.

Most of the original testers seemed to have few if any issues in the various stages of testing, so that in the Spring it was thought to be available by the 3rd quarter as I recall. Its just seemed to keep slipping. Yet in terms of functionality it was stable and working well. Now it is the 4th quarter and it is in field testing. So the latest is by the end of the year, but that even seems to be hedged.

So it is not difficult to understand it takes time. Just seems the finish line has been moved a few times- having watched the progress these many months.

[Earl Bonovich]

Earl, I think the frustration stems from the fact that it seems like field testing is done and that SWM is ready to go except that for whatever reason deployment or general availability is not happening.


And see that is where the problem is... anyone that got the impression that "field testing is done"... is wrong.


The anticipation and disappointment is heightened by the fact that SWM availability was anticipated to be imminent. In my case, I was PROMISED by BOTH the D* CSR and head of the local installer that I would get one for my install 3 weeks ago which jived with the stories that SWM were being sent out on installs in Texas.


I remember your posts... and don't know why you told that... doesn't make any sense on why.... as it is pretty clear... at least to the installer base on if they have or don't have SWM's.


I was led to believe the damn thing could be had. I could have waited and lived with single tuner life until the beginning of the year which is now the parroted line on SWM availability. I don't have patience and spent a lot of money on a very difficult extra line fish that resulted in several holes in my sheetrock. A lot of people are not willing to either spend the money or put up with the bitching of their significant other (which I thankfully avoided on both counts) to put up with this and I don't blame them.

Well... where did you learn about SWM? Here?...
Then on the same accord... I would hope you also got the information that it wasn't available "all over" yet... regardless of what you were told by a CSR/Lead Tech.

There is no excuse for them giving you wrong information... but on the flip side... "we" the community here at DBSTalk, could have gotten your expectations a little more inline to what is really going on.

[Earl Bonovich]

I agree about expectations.

Most of the original testers seemed to have few if any issues in the various stages of testing, so that in the Spring it was thought to be available by the 3rd quarter as I recall. Its just seemed to keep slipping. Yet in terms of functionality it was stable and working well. Now it is the 4th quarter and it is in field testing. So the latest is by the end of the year, but that even seems to be hedged.

So it is not difficult to understand it takes time. Just seems the finish line has been moved a few times- having watched the progress these many months.

Last time I checked "October" was the ball park time frame that I had quoted way back in the beginning... and that was 9+ months ago...

And yes.. as you get closer... and you get to the final nitty gritty's...things do slip.....

[Coffey77]

I'd love it but it would be difficult to implement and maintain. How would you qualify? What if someone else in your family called and needed base line support? What if someone lied and said they were you, could you get the flag taken off for being a bonehead?

It wouldn't be all that hard to implement. It would most likely be a matter of signing up for a course and becoming "certified" in SWM installation. An example: If you sign up for a 1 hour course on how to squeeze firestop through a caulking tube (yes, there is a little more to it but that's the real basics of it) you become certified and are then able to use the product under the terms and conditions of the products manufacturer. DIRECTV "could" offer a course/seminar at certain locations to offer this certification. For the cost of some of these seminars, I'd be happy to go around teaching people and certifying. ;)

[flipptyfloppity]

I am pretty sure we all understand the desire to have one...
As yes.. we all desired it too (those that have one to field trial).

I have gone through many years of running mulitple coax lines... in akward places.... where SWM would have made it easier.

But is it "that" difficult to understand that the product is still in field testing.... and DirecTV is trying to finalize it? The same company that people lambasted for rushing out something last year... is now getting lambasted for not rushing to get this product out quicker....

I understand it's still in testing.
I understand D* pays installers to run cables all the time right now and will save a bundle when this gets out, so they're at least as interested it it coming out as I am.
And I'm not blaming you (or veryoldschool) for DTV not bringing this out.
I didn't see your initial prediction of October, and even if I had, I STILL wouldn't blame you for it not being out yet.

But I am kind of baffled by a person who has an SWM and likely well appreciates what it is doing for him (because he has 3 receivers) complaining that others who can't have it do want it.

If I can be very forward without being too big a jerk, I pretty much think admonishing the folks of the board for wanting an SWM at a time when it would be particularly useful to them (such as when moving to a new place) didn't sit too well with me. And it's not going to stop the whiners anyway nor is it going to get them here sooner.

[tealcomp]

I am pretty sure we all understand the desire to have one...
As yes.. we all desired it too (those that have one to field trial).

I have gone through many years of running mulitple coax lines... in akward places.... where SWM would have made it easier.

But is it "that" difficult to understand that the product is still in field testing.... and DirecTV is trying to finalize it? The same company that people lambasted for rushing out something last year... is now getting lambasted for not rushing to get this product out quicker....

LOL, you just cannot make everyone happy :) or D** if you do, D** if you don't..

[gully_foyle]

Umm.... no.. doesn't mean that at all.

How about three 20-minute buffers, then?

[houskamp]

oops guess this thread was my fault :grin: :lol:
Just always see that "coupon code" box